FORMATION OF METAL HYDRIDE POWDERS AND METAL HYDROGEN AMORPHOUS POWDERS BY MECHANOCHEMICAL REACTION

The formation of metal hydride powders was examined where pure metals powders were milled with liquid hydrocarbons, the source of hydrogen atoms. Niobium and tantalum were transformed to their crystalline hydrides when being milled with n-heptane (C7H16) or cyclohexane (C6H12). Chromium was transformed to an amorphous hydride. These transformations from metal to metal hydride are suggested as being caused by the absorption of hydrogen atoms which originated from the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons.